All you ever needed to know about cowhide !
Cowhides have been made use of since time immemorial by man to fashion articles of clothing and additional items. This natural, hard wearing product – which is a by-product of the food processing industry, is generally used to help make natural leather products such as clothes, seat coverings as well as even for bookbinding. An growing amount of skins are used to provide cowhides rugs and accessories as they increase in popularity
Cowhide heritage
Cows have been tamed and herded since pre-historic times and raised for their milk, meat and other products associated with the animals including skin and bone. In past times cowhide has been utilized in making clothes, blankets, camping tents, water carriers, packing bags as well as drum covers. Cowhide was even employed to cover baseballs prior to the 1974 season, when it was replaced by horsehide.
Preparing skins for use
Cowhide is first of all cleansed to take away the meats as well as body fat. Any hair is shaved out prior to it is dried out, if wanted. The hide is then stretched smooth for drying out. Immediately after drying, natural skin oils are rubbed into the hide during the tanning process. Oils are often made from other parts of the cow, such as the brain. In the event that any hair is remaining on the hide, the hair part doesn’t have to be tanned with natural oils. Just after the oils have dried in, the hide is pulled by hand or perhaps machine in the process known as tanning. Chromium tanning was developed in the nineteenth century and is at this time the most efficient method to protect the hide and make sure its durability.
Learn more about these wonderful products in Part 2 – all you ever needed to know about cowhide !
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